The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-08-18
THE SUMNER NORMAL.
A Comprehensive Review of the
First Weeks Work.
The Faculty and Their Able Work
Discussed IN Terms
of Favor.

ance OF teachers has not been so large as
hoped for, ninety are enrolled, but the
quality probably makesup for the lack of
numbers.
The pupil teachers show deep interest
in the work, so deep, in fact, that it has
been necessary to caution them against
undertaking too much work. 1t is fault
of young and enthusiastic teachers that,
seeing so many possibilities in their work,
they undertake to cover the whole ground
in short time. The faculty of the sum
mer normal were very wise in foreseeing
the mental indigestion which would follow
such a course, and taking means to pre-
vent it. Forty-five hours work is required
from each pupil who desires to be exam
ined for state certificate. These certif-
Gates will be signed by the state superin-
tendent, and will be valid in any county
for two years, and every school board in
the state will honor such certificates.
The unusual advantages which this sum
mer normal offers for work in advanced
studies, literature, physics, chemistry
should call together the progressive
and thinking teachers of the state. Such
work would seem to portend that this
school is not for this summer only, but
that it is likely to become permanent in
stitution, and that it may be to Texas, if
not to the entire southwest, what the Sara
| toga summer school is to the north and
northeast. Should such be the case it
would afford teachers who have not the
means for normal training, an excellent
opportunity to acquire a knowledge of
theory and practice, and all teachers the
chance of coming in contact with the best
thought and most prominent educators of
the country.
The days work opens with mastery
exercise by the venerable and much loved
president of the Sam Houston Normal in
stitute, DR.. Baldwin. All those who have
had the good fortune to hear the doctor
on the subject of theory and practice,
know what mental feat is daily spread
before the teachers, The subject of the
doctors lectures are as follows "The
Relation of Psychology to Education"
laying special stress upon the unity of the
mind "The Education of Sense Percep-
tion;" "Object Teaching and Kindergar-
ten Work." education of Self-conscious-
ness and Subject Lessons;" "Memory and
its Laws"
| L he ODJeCJ VI JllGS0 leCJurGS 10 w luClOo
the teachers to mind study as the
basis of all correct teaching. None could
listen to DIR. Baldwin's eloquent words nor
watch his enthusiastic manner without
desiring to build themselves up to the
ideal manhood and womanhood, and re-
solving in their heart of hearts that they
will, as much as in them lies, lead the
children entrusted to their care to an
earnest love of goodness, beauty and
truth, and thus fit them not only for the
life they live here, but for the one they
are to live in the world beyond.
DIR. Waggener, of the University, has
given his pupils more outside work than
any other member of the faculty of the
summer normal. Under the head of Eng
lish literature the leading poets and their
masterpieces have been taken up In the
following order: Spencer, Fairy Queen
Shakespeare. Julius Caesar, Hamlet; Mil.
ton, Paradise Lost; Dryden, Absalom and
Achitophel; Pope, The Rape of the Lock
The object of these lessons is to in
terest teachers in the study of literature
and incite them to pursue it as a means
of culture as we'll as one of the requisites
of "good education" Culture in this
| ulTGCJlOu dulOuk OuE USdCHOIb WOulu navy
marked effect upon the literature il
our schools DR.. Wsggener's distinguished
position and enviable reputation enables
him to do more for teachers in this di
rection than would lie within the power O.
many another.
Prof. Pritchett's class in algebra num-
bers fifty. The professors so well known
and SO popular with all who are interested
in or have attended the Sam Houston
Normal institute, that it is hardly neces
sary to speak of the excellence of hi
,, work. The class have taken up elemen-
|, tary algebra, beginning with notation
and have pursue the work through fac
toring. The lessons have been in tn,
form of lectures, discussing methods O.
presen ting the subject from the teachers
standpoint and ways of developing ant
illustrating its prin ciples.
DIR. Macfarlane, of the University, hal
large and attentive class in physics
? The matter for each day is discussed in al
8 able manner, and interesting experiment
illustrate each step in the lesson. TIL
q ubiects taken up thus far are genera
, properties of bodies, the idea of dyna
3 mics, gravitation and molecular forces
{ All the matter is presented in clear AM
, precise manner, and is such that much o
/ it may be used in graded schools.
, Prof. Leonard, of the city schools, ha
3 charge of the work in arithmetic, in plac
: of Prof Bickler, resigned. The elias
: began at the beginning of written arith
Z metic, and discussed the origin of tn
a Arabic system and the introduction o
zero. The four fundamental processe
we're next taken and discussed, as to tn
method of presenting each. Prof. Leon
ard regards long division as the test o
accuracy and proficiency in these rules
The class have, in like manner, taken u
fractions and decimals. 1t would be i'm
possible for any thoughtful teacher b
attend such lessons as ProfLeonard give
without realizing more fully than eve
before, the science of number and it
relation to the mental development an
the welfare of the child.
Miss Minnie Fairfield, of the FRS
! State Normal school of Minnesota, ha
:, charge of the kindergarten department
I The object of these lessons seems to b
to present TO the teachers the kindergarte
9 idea, whioh must underlie all kindergarte
y work, and the use of all kindergarte
material; for as Prof. Hailman says, "N
kindergarten is anything but an approac
C to the kindergarten idea" The use of tn
hall in the kindergarten and the assistanc
which it may be to both teacher and pup